Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Dry closets – Urinal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2001-11-06
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Dry closets
Urinal
C004S144100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311339
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERNCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Accommodating the physiological necessity to urinate on the part of incapacitated or infirm patients is problematical. Proposed solutions to this need have demonstrated that it is an illusive problem.
The ubiquitous bedpan generally has been employed for this procedure. However, where the patient is severely incapacitated, for example, in recovery from stroke and the like, the procedure is highly physically taxing both on the part of the patient and the medical attendant.
Vacuum assisted devices have been proposed for the collection of urine. These devices generally are described as being positioned about the urethra. While such systems promise a desirable convenience, their designs therefore have exhibited technical difficulties. For example, in one approach, the vacuum is utilized to create a urine air entrainment which then is delivered by suitable conduits to a collection facility such as a tank. Aeration procedures, however, lead to difficulties in the collection by evoking frothing and contamination of the vacuum source due to the entrained nature of the urine. The vacuum assisted devices also have proven difficult to position because of the vacuum induced attachment of the entryway of the collecting device with the skin of the patient. While some vacuum may be desirable for this positioning procedure, the vacuum requisite to urine removal is one posing a considerable hindrance to proper placement. In general, following placement of the collection vessel, the vacuum should fully support the collector throughout the urination procedure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is addressed to apparatus and method for collecting urine, such apparatus being particularly suited for utilization with those physically handicapped. A polymeric collector component is employed which is configured with a collection cavity extending outwardly from a lip. That lip is configured to engage and support a vacuum coupling with the skin, for example, at the labium region. Extending integrally downwardly from the lower region of the lip is a well which functions to collect urine while avoiding its aspiration or air entrainment. A urine collection conduit is provided which is formed preferably of a flexible transparent polymeric material. It is coupled with the collector and incorporates a collection opening located within the well. The oppositely disposed urine expulsion end of this conduit extends into the urine input port of a urine collection tank at a location adjacent the internal sidewall of the tank to promote a surface tension defining relationship between expelled urine and the side of the tank. This arrangement functions to avoid undesirable foaming of the urine within the collection cavity of the tank. A vacuum is imposed within the tank, and thus, is transferred to the collection component utilizing a vacuum assembly.
In a preferred arrangement, the top wall portion of the collector incorporates a vacuum control orifice which is manually adjustable by an attendant to provide an air entry opening of first extent which is selected to facilitate the positioning of the lip component of the collector for urine collection. Following such positioning, the control orifice is adjusted to provide an air opening of second extent less than the first extent and this opening functions to create a vacuum coupling of the collector with surrounding skin or the labium. The opening further functions to dry the skin region enclosed by the collector. In this regard, the termination of urination may be observed through the transparent collection conduit and the vacuum operated system may be continued in operation as an afterflow to carry out such drying activities.
Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.
The invention, accordingly, comprises the apparatus and method possessing the construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and steps which are exemplified in the following detailed description.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Huynh Khoa
Mueller and Smith LPA
Walczak David J.
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